The Forks (Winnipeg) Travel Guide - Free

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The Forks
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The Forks in Winnipeg combines Indigenous history, river walks, The Forks Market, museums, seasonal skating, public art and riverside dining in Canada.

Where the Rivers Meet

The Forks occupies the meeting point of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, just south of Winnipeg’s downtown core. For thousands of years, this was a place of travel, exchange and gathering for Indigenous peoples; today, its broad riverbanks, promenades and public spaces remain central to the city’s outdoor life. The neighbourhood is compact enough to explore on foot, yet its open landscape gives it a spacious, distinctly Manitoban character.
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Markets, Museums and Public Space

The Forks Market is the area’s social centre, combining food stalls, cafés, small retailers and an upper-level dining area inside a carefully adapted historic railway building. Nearby, the Johnston Terminal adds further shops and food businesses, while the Manitoba Children’s Museum and the Prairie Gallery of the Winnipeg Railway Museum extend the area’s cultural appeal. The nearby Canadian Museum for Human Rights, although a separate institution within The Forks precinct, adds one of Winnipeg’s most significant contemporary architectural and educational landmarks.

Riverside Life

The Forks changes markedly with the seasons. In summer, visitors walk or cycle along the river trails, pause at Oodena Circle and watch the water from the riverwalk. In winter, skating and walking routes on the frozen rivers, when conditions permit and official access is open, become a defining local experience. Restaurants, public art, interpretive displays and open-air events keep the district active, but The Forks is not simply an entertainment complex: its Indigenous histories, railway legacy and continuing role as a civic gathering place are visible throughout the landscape.

Best attractions in The Forks

The Forks offers a concentrated mix of cultural attractions and outdoor spaces around the Red and Assiniboine rivers. The Forks Market occupies a converted railway building and combines food, independent retail and public gathering space, while Johnston Terminal adds another historic structure to explore. Oodena Circle, an amphitheatre-like public space, presents Indigenous-focused interpretation and archaeological context. The Manitoba Children’s Museum provides hands-on exhibits for younger visitors, and the Prairie Gallery in the Winnipeg Railway Museum explores the city’s railway heritage. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights stands within the wider Forks precinct, with galleries devoted to human-rights history and contemporary issues. Outdoors, the riverwalk, trails and seasonal skating routes offer a changing experience of the landscape, while public art, open lawns and views towards St Boniface make the district as much a place for wandering as for scheduled sightseeing.

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Best landmarks in The Forks

The Forks’ landmarks express the meeting of Indigenous, river and railway histories. Oodena Circle is a major symbolic and interpretive feature, designed as a gathering space that acknowledges the area’s long Indigenous past. The Forks Market and Johnston Terminal retain the industrial character of buildings associated with Winnipeg’s railway era, while Union Station immediately beside the precinct remains one of the city’s most important railway structures. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights provides a contrasting contemporary landmark, defined by its sculptural architecture and prominent position beside the rivers. The confluence itself is the area’s oldest and most enduring landmark: the Red and Assiniboine meet here, shaping both the physical landscape and the name by which the place is known. Together, these structures and waterways make The Forks a civic landscape rather than a single monument.

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Explore The Forks on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in The Forks, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in The Forks

Eating at The Forks centres on the Market, where a varied food hall brings together casual meals, baked goods, snacks and regional influences under one roof. The area’s dining identity is closely linked to its role as a meeting place, with menus and businesses that reflect Winnipeg’s multicultural population and prairie setting rather than a single culinary tradition. Tall Grass Prairie Bread offers a long-established local presence, while restaurants and food businesses in the market and Johnston Terminal provide options ranging from quick counter service to more leisurely meals. Seasonal outdoor seating and riverside locations add a strong connection to the landscape when weather permits. Visitors should distinguish the precinct’s market-led dining from the more extensive restaurant scenes of downtown and the Exchange District, which begin nearby but are separate neighbourhood experiences.

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Best bars in The Forks

The Forks has an evening scene, but it is not a nightclub district. Its nightlife is centred on restaurants, market venues, licensed gathering places and occasional cultural or seasonal programming rather than a dense run of late-night clubs. The Common provides a prominent beer-hall-style setting within The Forks Market, while other food and drink businesses create a relaxed place to meet before or after museum visits, river walks and events. Evening activity can be especially appealing when the public spaces are illuminated or winter skating is operating, though outdoor conditions and programming vary. For live music, late bars and club-focused entertainment, visitors generally need to continue into downtown, Osborne Village or other nearby Winnipeg districts rather than expecting The Forks to function as the city’s main after-dark centre.

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Best shops in The Forks

Shopping at The Forks is concentrated in The Forks Market and Johnston Terminal, where independent retailers and small businesses occupy adapted railway buildings beside the public spaces. The selection commonly includes locally made gifts, craft and design objects, clothing, books, food products and items connected with Winnipeg or Manitoba, although individual stock changes. The market setting makes browsing part of a wider visit involving meals, exhibitions and river walks rather than a conventional high-street shopping trip. Johnston Terminal adds a quieter, more spacious retail environment, while the open layout allows visitors to move between shops and heritage architecture. The Forks is not Winnipeg’s principal fashion or department-store district; for broader retail choice, visitors can continue towards downtown or the Exchange District, which have different commercial identities and lie nearby rather than within The Forks itself.

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The Forks essentials

Getting There
The Forks is immediately south of downtown Winnipeg and is accessible on foot from the Exchange District and central city streets. Union Station, Winnipeg’s historic railway station, stands beside the precinct, although passenger rail services are limited compared with the station’s historic role. Winnipeg Transit buses serve nearby downtown streets, with the most convenient stop depending on the route and destination. Visitors arriving by car can use the precinct’s paid parking areas, while cyclists can approach along riverside and city cycling routes. The Forks is also connected by pedestrian routes towards St Boniface and the Esplanade Riel area.
Getting Around
The Forks is straightforward to explore on foot, with pedestrian paths linking The Forks Market, Johnston Terminal, Oodena Circle, the museums and the riverwalk. The terrain around the central precinct is generally level, though river paths can be uneven, snowy or slippery in winter. Cycling is practical on the riverside trails and nearby city routes, but visitors should watch for changing surfaces and shared-path traffic. The area connects naturally towards downtown, St Boniface and the Red River, while seasonal river routes may open or close according to weather and official safety assessments.
Safety
The Forks is an open public precinct, but ordinary urban precautions remain sensible, particularly during crowded events and around busy food and market areas. Keep belongings secure, use marked paths and take care near road crossings, river edges and shared cycling routes. Winter visitors should dress for severe cold and avoid entering river ice unless an official route has been opened and marked. After dark, remain aware of your surroundings and use well-used, lit routes when moving between The Forks, downtown and nearby districts. Conditions can change quickly on the rivers and outdoor paths.
Emergency Situations
In Canada, call 911 for police, fire or urgent medical assistance and state clearly that you are at The Forks in Winnipeg, identifying the nearest building, entrance or public landmark. For non-urgent medical needs, ask staff at the market, museums or other public facilities for current local guidance. River ice, extreme cold and sudden weather can create particular risks in winter, so follow posted closures and instructions from The Forks and municipal authorities. International visitors should carry identification and ensure that travel insurance details are readily available.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect the site’s Indigenous significance and read the interpretive material rather than treating cultural markers or installations as ordinary photo props. Follow instructions around river access, skating routes and temporary closures, and keep clear of active cycling lanes and service areas. Ask before photographing people, performers or community events, especially where cultural activity is taking place. In The Forks Market, queue patiently and leave room for other diners; around residential routes and nearby public spaces, keep noise considerate. Dispose of waste properly and do not climb on public art or heritage structures.
Local Tips
The central market area is only one part of The Forks: include Oodena Circle, the riverwalk, the railway buildings and the paths towards the river junction in any visit. The neighbourhood is particularly atmospheric in changing light, with broad views across the waterways and open sky. In winter, confirm the status of the river trail before setting out and allow time for cold-weather clothing and slower surfaces. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Manitoba Children’s Museum can anchor a longer visit, while the Esplanade Riel route provides a useful pedestrian connection towards St Boniface.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloBonjour[bon-zhoor]
GoodbyeAu revoir[oh ruh-vwahr]
YesOui[wee]
NoNon[nohn]
Please/You're welcomeS'il vous plaît/De rien[seel voo pleh/duh ryen]
Thank youMerci[mehr-see]
Excuse me/SorryExcusez-moi/Désolé[ex-kew-zay mwah/deh-zoh-lay]
How are you?Comment ça va?[koh-mohn sah vah]
Fine. And you?Bien. Et toi?[byen. ay twah]
Do you speak English?Parlez-vous anglais?[par-lay voo ahn-glay]
I don't understandJe ne comprends pas[zhuh nuh kohm-prahn pah]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseJe voudrais voir le menu, s'il vous plaît[zhuh voo-dray vwar luh meh-noo, seel voo pleh]
I don't eat meatJe ne mange pas de viande[zhuh nuh mahnj pah duh vee-and]
Cheers!Santé![sahn-tay]
I would like to pay, pleaseJe voudrais payer, s'il vous plaît[zhuh voo-dray pay-ay, seel voo pleh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Au secours![oh suh-kur]
Go away!Allez-vous en![al-lay vooz ahn]
Call the Police!Appelez la police![ah-peh-lay lah poh-lees]
Call a doctor!Appelez un médecin![ah-peh-lay uh may-duh-sahn]
I'm lostJe suis perdu[zhuh swee pair-doo]
I'm illJe suis malade[zhuh swee mah-lahd]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Je voudrais acheter...[zhuh voo-dray zah-shay]
I'm just lookingJe regarde juste[zhuh ruh-gard zhewst]
How much is it?Combien ça coûte?[kohm-byen sah koot]
That's too expensiveC'est trop cher[say troh sher]
Can you lower the price?Pouvez-vous baisser le prix?[poo-veh voo bay-say luh pree]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Quelle heure est-il?[kell uhr eh-teel]
It's one o'clockIl est une heure[eel ehz oon uhr]
Half past (10)Dix heures et demie[dees uhr ay duh-mee]
MorningMatin[mah-tahn]
AfternoonAprès-midi[ah-pray-mee-dee]
EveningSoir[swahr]
YesterdayHier[ee-yehr]
TodayAujourd'hui[oh-zhoor-dwee]
TomorrowDemain[duh-mahn]
1Un[uhn]
2Deux[duh]
3Trois[trwah]
4Quatre[kat]
5Cinq[sank]
6Six[sees]
7Sept[set]
8Huit[wheat]
9Neuf[nuf]
10Dix[dees]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Où se trouve...?[oo suh troov]
What's the address?Quelle est l'adresse?[kell eh lah-dress]
Can you show me (on the map)?Pouvez-vous me montrer (sur la carte)?[poo-veh voo muh mohn-tray (soor lah kart)]
When's the next (bus)?Quand est le prochain (bus)?[kahn eh luh proh-shahn (bus)]
A ticket (to ....)Un billet (pour ....)[uhn bee-yay (poor)]

History of The Forks

An Indigenous Gathering Place

The Forks is a historic meeting place at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, where Indigenous peoples travelled, traded and gathered long before the emergence of Winnipeg. Archaeological evidence has confirmed the area’s long human history, while the rivers made it an important point within wider networks extending across the Prairies. The name refers directly to the geographical meeting of the two waterways, but the place’s significance is cultural as well as physical. The Forks lies within Treaty 1 territory and remains connected to the histories and living presence of Anishinaabe, Ininew, Dakota, Dene and Métis peoples.

Fur Trade and River Transport

During the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Red River settlement and the fur-trade economy strengthened The Forks’ importance as a transportation and exchange point. River routes linked the area with communities to the north and south, while nearby Fort Rouge and other settlements reflected the changing pattern of European and Métis activity in the region. The Forks was not an isolated trading post but part of a larger network of waterways, trails and seasonal movement. Its position helped shape the development of Winnipeg, whose growth depended heavily on the meeting of these routes.

Railways Transform the Landscape

Railway construction altered The Forks dramatically in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Winnipeg became a major railway centre, and the land beside the rivers was occupied by tracks, yards, warehouses and passenger facilities. Union Station, immediately west of The Forks, embodies this period of expansion, while surviving railway structures within the precinct preserve the area’s industrial character. The railway era brought workers, migrants, goods and new connections, but it also reduced the prominence of the rivers as everyday transport corridors and separated parts of the city from the waterfront.

From Rail Yards to Civic Destination

As railway operations declined and land uses changed, the former rail yards at The Forks became the subject of ambitious public redevelopment. Archaeological work and community planning informed the creation of a public gathering place rather than a conventional commercial district. The Forks Market opened in 1989 in a restored railway building, followed by further public spaces, trails, cultural facilities and restored structures. The redevelopment brought the rivers back into the city’s daily life while acknowledging earlier Indigenous and railway histories. The area now functions as a cultural and recreational precinct, though its identity continues to evolve through programming, interpretation and changing relationships with the surrounding downtown and river communities.

The Forks in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

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Neighbourhoods near The Forks

The closest neighbourhoods to The Forks, if you have time for more than one stop.

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